Next stop in regional SPARK tour will be Saturday in Douglas

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DOUGLAS, Ga. – A discipleship expert who has written several books on the subject will be speaking at the latest regional SPARK total church conference being held Saturday at First Baptist Church in Douglas.

Bill Wilks is founder of D-Life and author of four D-Life Journals, D-Life Online and his most recent book, The Greater Work – Disciple-Making. Anytime. Anywhere. He is also lead pastor at NorthPark Church in Trussville, Ala., and an adjunct professor at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary campus in Birmingham.

The Georgia Baptist Mission Board expanded the SPARK conference this year to include in-person training at five regional locations across the state.

The initial one, which drew about 300 participants, was held last Saturday at Second Baptist Church in Warner Robins where Woodstock First Baptist Church lead pastor Jeremy Morton was the keynote speaker.

Three others are scheduled at Byne Memorial Baptist Church in Albany and First Baptist Church in Alpharetta on August 20 and at and Christ Place Church in Flowery Branch on August 29.

The regional sites are offering about 30 breakout sessions covering nearly every area of ministry, including child protection, evangelism, facility security, sexual abuse safeguards, missions, and next gen ministries.

Scott Sullivan, the director of SPARK and discipleship catalyst at the state Mission Board, said the regional conferences have been arranged in a way that will be beneficial to people no matter what area of ministry they’re involved in.

Sullivan says First Baptist Douglas has worked hard to encourage other congregations in the region to take advantage of the conference.

“What Associate Pastor Jonathan Jordan and Pastor Don Hattaway are doing to provide training through SPARK at FBC Douglas is a great example of local leaders owning an event, mobilizing volunteers, and knowing how to put on a great training experience,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan said attendees can register now for the SPARK conference.

Nearly 6,000 people took part in the SPARK conference last year, making it one of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s most popular training events.

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